La Vie Est Belle will open in White Bear Lake with its holiday collection. The display at the Lake Elmo storefront gives shoppers a good idea of what they can expect. Photos: La Vie Est Belle
The boutique spreads a message of positivity and acceptance to a new community.
Expanding beyond its premiere location in Lake Elmo, La Vie Est Belle is opening a secondary storefront in downtown White Bear Lake early this October.
The store’s concept grew out of owner Kristin Rohman Rehkamp’s attempt to ground herself through her daughter’s struggles with mental illness. “I found la vie est belle, which means ‘life is beautiful’ in French,” Rehkamp says. “It’s about choosing your path to happiness and inspiring others.”
Rehkamp left her corporate job and built off of her background in interior design and retail to open La Vie Est Belle, first as an online shop and later as a brick-and-mortar store that looks to inspire beautiful living and strength through creative classes and events, décor and gifts.
La Vie Est Belle aims to empower young people and families by donating time and a portion of its earnings to local youth mental health organizations. The stores also contribute to this mission by intentionally employing young women to celebrate and grow them in their careers.
La Vie Est Belle is partnering with a local White Bear Lake curator Debbie Opt Staedt, owner of Happy Everything MN, who shares its creative vision and mission with accessories and clothes aimed to bolster confidence and style.
The boutique opens its doors to the public with a soft launch on October 4, which will feature its holiday collection. La Vie Est Belle also continues to offer online retail shopping and classes and events at its Lake Elmo location.
La Vie Est Belle
Instagram: @lavieestbellegiftshop
